Gerald D Ingram

US Patent:

6793612, Sep 21, 2004

Filed:

Mar 24, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/535162

Inventors:

Ronald J. Cercone - East Lyme CT
Gerald D. Ingram - Mystic CT
Leon C. Nunier - Mystic CT
Scott J. Quaratella - Westerly RI

Assignee:

Medtronic Xomed, Inc. - Jacksonville FL

International Classification:

B23P 1500

US Classification:

492 59, 1523016, 15102, 15118, 492 30, 492 60

Abstract:

An industrial sponge device wherein the sponge is made from a polyvinyl acetal material with a process in which the pores are formed by gas to provide an open pore structure having no fibrils. Additionally, the sponge is purified by an extracting process which includes alternating exposure of the partially cross-linked sponge to solutions of high pH and low pH. The sponge is sterilized by electron beam radiation to destroy micro organisms that can cause contamination of the final product. The resulting sponge material is formed into an industrial sponge having a cylindrical body and a plurality of projections extending from the body. The projections are tapered truncated cones having a cross-sectional radius that decreases with distance from the body. The extracting process permits residual amounts of calcium, zinc, and other elements to be 2 ppm or less; preferably 1 ppm or less.

US Patent:

6875163, Apr 5, 2005

Filed:

Feb 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/365426

Inventors:

Ronald J. Cercone - East Lyme CT, US
Gerald D. Ingram - Mystic CT, US
Leon C. Nunier - Mystic CT, US
Scott J. Quaratella - Westerly RI, US

Assignee:

Medtronic Xomed, Inc. - Jacksonville FL

International Classification:

B08B001/04

US Classification:

492 30, 492 59, 1523016

Abstract:

An industrial sponge device and a method of manufacturing the same. The sponge is made from a polyvinyl acetal material with a process in which the pores are formed by gas to provide an open pore structure having no fibrils. Additionally, the sponge is purified by an extracting process which includes alternating exposure of the partially cross-linked sponge to solutions of high pH and low pH. The sponge is sterilized by electron beam radiation to destroy micro organisms that can cause contamination of the final product. The resulting sponge material is formed into an industrial sponge having a cylindrical body and a plurality of projections extending from the body. The projections are tapered truncated cones having a cross-sectional radius that decreases with distance from the body. The extracting process permits residual amounts of calcium, zinc, and other elements to be 2 ppm or less, preferably 1 ppm or less.

US Patent:

60044020, Dec 21, 1999

Filed:

Mar 9, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/264816

Inventors:

Ronald J. Cercone - East Lyme CT
Gerald D. Ingram - Mystic CT
Leon C. Nunier - Mystic CT
Scott J. Quaratella - Westerly RI

Assignee:

Xomed Surgical Products, Inc. - Jacksonville FL

International Classification:

B08B 9087

US Classification:

134 2

Abstract:

A method of cleaning a silicon material using a polyvinyl acetal sponge material. The sponge material is purified by an extracting process which includes alternating exposure of the sponge material to acid and oxidizing solutions. The extracting process permits residual amounts of calcium, zinc, sulfate, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chloride, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, magnesium, mercury, nitrate, potassium, selenium, silica, silver and sodium to be 2 ppm or less. Following the extracting process, the silicon material is contacted with the sponge material to thereby clean the silicon material.

US Patent:

60800925, Jun 27, 2000

Filed:

May 2, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/850772

Inventors:

Ronald J. Cercone - East Lyme CT
Gerald D. Ingram - Mystic CT
Leon C. Nunier - Mystic CT
Scott J. Quaratella - Westerly RI

Assignee:

Xomed Surgical Products, Inc. - Jacksonville FL

International Classification:

A01B 2904

US Classification:

492 30

Abstract:

An industrial cleaning sponge includes an industrial sponge roller device having a cylindrical body of polyvinyl acetal material and a plurality of projections, formed of the polyvinyl acetal material, extending from an outer surface of the cylindrical body. The projections have a truncated conical shape with each projection including a circular base coupled to the outer surface of the cylindrical body, a circular, planar top surface and a side wall extending outwardly from the top surface to the base.

US Patent:

62351257, May 22, 2001

Filed:

Nov 25, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/199808

Inventors:

Ronald J. Cercone - East Lyme CT
Gerald D. Ingram - Mystic CT
Leon C. Nunier - Mystic CT
Scott J. Quaratella - Westerly RI

Assignee:

Xomed Surgical Products, Inc. - Jacksonville FL

International Classification:

B08B 304

US Classification:

134 28

Abstract:

An industrial sponge device and a method of manufacturing the same. The sponge is made from a polyvinyl acetal material with a process in which the pores are formed by gas to provide an open pore structure having no fibrils. Additionally, the sponge is purified by an extracting process which includes alternating exposure of the partially cross-linked sponge to solutions of high pH and low pH. The sponge is sterilized by electron beam radiation to destroy micro organisms that can cause contamination of the final product. The resulting sponge material is formed into an industrial sponge having a cylindrical body and a plurality of projections extending from the body. The projections are tapered truncated cones having a cross-sectional radius that decreases with distance from the body. The extracting process permits residual amounts of calcium, zinc, and other elements to be 2 ppm or less preferably 1 ppm or less.

US Patent:

60275731, Feb 22, 2000

Filed:

Jan 9, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/780895

Inventors:

Ronald J. Cercone - East Lyme CT
Gerald D. Ingram - Mystic CT
Leon C. Nunier - Mystic CT
Scott J. Quaratella - Westerly RI

Assignee:

Xomed Surgical Products, Inc. - Jacksonville FL

International Classification:

C23G 102
B08B 900
B08B 300
A61L 200

US Classification:

134 28

Abstract:

An industrial sponge device and a method of manufacturing the same. The sponge is made from a polyvinyl acetal material with a process in which the pores are formed by gas to provide an open pore structure having no fibrils. Additionally, the sponge is purified by alternating exposure of the partially cross-linked sponge to solutions of high pH and low pH. The sponge is sterilized by electron beam radiation to destroy micro organisms that can cause contamination of the final product. The resulting sponge material is formed into an industrial sponge having a cylindrical body and a plurality of projections extending from the body. The projections are tapered truncated cones having a cross-sectional radius that decreases with distance from the body.

US Patent:

6103018, Aug 15, 2000

Filed:

Jun 11, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/095556

Inventors:

Ronald J. Cercone - East Lyme CT
Gerald D. Ingram - Mystic CT
Leon C. Nunier - Mystic CT
Scott J. Quaratella - Westerly RI

Assignee:

Xomed Surgical Products, Inc. - Jacksonville FL

International Classification:

B08B 304

US Classification:

134 28

Abstract:

An industrial sponge device and a method of manufacturing the same. The sponge is made from a polyvinyl acetal material with a process in which the pores are formed by gas to provide an open pore structure having no fibrils. Additionally, the sponge is purified by an extracting process which includes alternating exposure of the partially cross-linked sponge to acid and oxidizing solutions. The sponge is sterilized by electron beam radiation to destroy micro organisms that can cause contamination of the final product. The resulting sponge material is formed into an industrial sponge having a cylindrical body and a plurality of projections extending from the body. The projections are tapered truncated cones having a cross-sectional radius that decreases with distance from the body. The extracting process permits residual amounts of calcium, zinc, and other elements to be 2 ppm or less; preferably 1 ppm or less.